Press Contact Geoff Kerr, USWeb/CKS, (408) 987-3260,
[email protected]
Investor Contact Kate Wagner, USWeb/CKS, (408) 987-3287,
[email protected]
USWeb/CKS Appoints Seven Regional Executives
Takes next steps to assemble into one company
SANTA CLARA, CA - January 12, 1999 - USWeb/CKS (Nasdaq: USWB) announced today that seven company executives have been appointed Executive Partners for the firm, each responsible for managing a specific geographic region.
The newly appointed Executive Partners tapped to help lead USWeb/CKS are as follows: The Northwest region will be led by both Keith Schaefer, formerly Managing Partner of the USWeb San Francisco office, and Kimberly Johnson, formerly EVP Western Region for CKS Group. The Southwest will be managed by Ron Hom, formerly Managing Partner in the USWeb Los Angeles office, and the Central region by John Boog-Scott, formerly Managing Partner for the USWeb Dallas office. Nancye Green, co-founder of Donovan and Green, a wholly owned subsidiary of USWeb/CKS will lead the Northeast. The Southeast will be led by Don Maurer, CEO and president of McKinney & Silver, also a wholly owned subsidiary of USWeb/CKS. Robert Clarkson, formerly EVP of Operations for CKS International, CKS Group Eastern Region and CKS Technology Group, will head international operations for the company. Effective today, the Executive Partners will report to Toby Corey, COO and president of USWeb/CKS.
The Executive Partners will be responsible for their region�s financial performance, client satisfaction, business development, recruiting, and employee professional growth. Each of the six regions will offer the full set of strategy, marketing communications and Internet technology services and expertise of USWeb/CKS.
�Consolidating our resources into six regions is the next step toward assembling USWeb/CKS into one company and leveraging our expertise to deliver strategies and implement innovative ways to help our clients build their businesses,� said Robert Shaw, CEO of USWeb/CKS. �We have started to build on the foundation already in place to create a powerhouse global Internet systems and marketing communications company.�
The company also announced today that Joe Firmage, co-founder of USWeb/CKS, will step down as chief strategist. He will be a consultant and strategic advisor to the company and will continue to retain his seat on the board of directors.
Shaw stated, �In a move of exceptional responsibility, Joe came to me and said his primary concern is what�s best for USWeb/CKS. Given the market exposure associated with his outside interests with the International Space Sciences Organization, Joe suggested that we would all be better served if he no longer had any official operating role with the company. I expect Joe to continue as a consultant to the firm. Joe is a visionary and he should be very proud of his success and accomplishments in building USWeb/CKS. This move continues to demonstrate that Joe has always put the interests of the company first.�
�The last three years have been without question the most rewarding and deeply satisfying of my life, mostly due to the 2,100 brilliant people that have come together to build USWeb/CKS,� said Joe Firmage. �Our first-rate management team has the collective knowledge and expertise that positions USWeb/CKS as an arrowhead enterprise in the electronic economy.�
Company Background
USWeb/CKS (Nasdaq: USWB) is a professional services firm that works with companies to define strategies and implement innovative ways to build their businesses by combining the expertise of strategy, Internet technology and marketing communications. USWeb/CKS helps clients differentiate their products and services, strengthen customer relationships, leverage human capital, and improve business efficiency in the new electronic economy. With more than 2,100 professionals, USWeb/CKS has helped hundreds of businesses advance their marketing communications programs as well as traditional IT and Internet systemseverything from brand development and advertising to business process automation and e-commerce solutions. The Company is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. Additional information about USWeb/CKS is available at uswebcks.com or by calling 408-987-3200.